Rangers or Royals might want Sosa

Even Sammy Sosa can wear out his welcome. But can the Cubs find a face-saving way to make him disappear before the conclusion of 2005, when they can end their contract with him?

It's debatable whether they can find a taker, but the early nibbles suggest this will be a very interesting winter. With many bad contracts in the marketplace, it is possible someone will commit $39.5 million over the next two years to Sosa.

The Texas Rangers and, surprise, Kansas City Royals, are two of the leading options for possible Sosa deals, with the Texas scenario containing an intriguing element. That's the link between pitcher Chan Ho Park, who would be offered to the Cubs, and Carlos Beltran, the switch-hitting All-Star who is believed to head Jim Hendry's off-season wish list.

It's something of a surprise that there is a market for Sosa, whose production no longer matches his salary. He was described as an "immovable object" in Sunday's Tribune because of his contract. But it wasn't known then that he was on the verge of forcing his way out of town, bolting Wrigley Field in the second inning of the season finale and then barbecuing manager Dusty Baker in an interview.

This will make it easier for the Cubs to deal him, as they won't have to worry as much about the backlash from their fans. It will be as if Sosa has not only made himself the official 2004 scapegoat but also traded himself.

The initial Sosa trade talk centered on the New York Mets, with no tie more substantial than his relationship to new general manager Omar Minaya, who was one of the scouts responsible for signing him. But the two franchises that seem to be the best fit for Sosa are in the American League, where he could split his time between designated hitter and the outfield.

In any potential Sosa trade, the Cubs are going to have to take back someone else's overpriced player. Outsiders always considered Sosa overvalued--remember the lack of interest when the Cubs shopped him in 2000?--and he has damaged his reputation badly with his antics and his declining production the last two years.

Given the Wal-Mart financing of the Royals, Kansas City seems a highly unlikely destination for Sosa. But Royals general manager Allard Baird says he's "not dismissing anything at this point," and sources indicate that includes a Sosa deal in which the Cubs take first baseman Mike Sweeney, who they could spin elsewhere if they didn't want to trade their own first baseman, Derrek Lee.

Outfield production is the Royals' top off-season priority, and they need a box-office attraction. A move to Kansas City would reunite Sosa with hitting coach Jeff Pentland and give him his first chance to play for a manager from the Dominican Republic, Tony Pena.

Sweeney, who has been limited to an average of 113 games a year the last three seasons, would receive a raise to $12.5 million for three years if he's traded. That's a lot to swallow, but he's a career .305 hitter who walks as often as he strikes out.

Texas almost certainly would swap Park for Sosa in a deal that could be expanded to include Alfonso Soriano and might increase the chance of the Cubs signing Beltran.

Park is three years into a five-year, $65 million deal and so far has given Texas 13 victories and 46 starts. He showed promise at times last year, when he had a 5.79 ERA in 14 starts, and would benefit from a return to the National League. If he is not effective enough to be a fifth starter, he could be released.

Soriano, an all-or-nothing leadoff man whom the Rangers are trying to deal because he earned $5.4 million last season and is eligible for arbitration, could be packaged with Park. Providing a landing place for Park wouldn't hurt the Cubs' position with agent Scott Boras, who represents both Beltran and Park.

Any talks between the Cubs and Mets would involve either outfielder Cliff Floyd, who is owed $6.5 million in each of the next two years, or catcher Mike Piazza, who will be eligible for free agency after making $15 million in 2005.

Floyd, 31, hit .260 with 18 homers last year. Unlike Soriano or Sweeney, he is a left-handed hitter who would balance the lineup. He's also a Chicago product.

With Larry Walker gone, Colorado could get into the bidding. The Rockies probably would try to interest the Cubs in center fielder Preston Wilson and left-hander Denny Neagle, both of whom are coming off injuries. Neagle had surgery in June but is expected to recover by spring training.

He's owed $19 million for 2005 and the buyout of an '06 option, and is covered by insurance. Wilson has one year left at $12.5 million.

The Cubs will have many moving parts in their off-season planning.

They can free $7.5 million by not exercising a contract option that would raise Moises Alou's salary to $11.5 million. If they do not re-sign shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, they will open up a spot where they were paying Alex Gonzalez $5.5 million this season. They also free up a $6 million slot (and get two high draft choices) if they let Matt Clement leave.